FAQ

Campus Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I register my child for school?

All new students are asked to register at the school they will be attending.

These forms ask for demographic information such as the following:
An accurate home address and telephone number (if a post office box is used for mail, an accurate street address must be provided as well)
The work telephone numbers for both parents (if applicable)
The students Social Security number and place of birth
The name and phone number of a person, other than a parent, to notify in case of an emergency

In addition, the following information is required of all students enrolling in Northwest ISD schools:

Birth certificate
A copy of the childs records from the school the child most recently attended (typically transferred by the school)
Last report card (if available)
Immunization records
Proof of residency (Deed of Sale, tax statement, rental agreement, utility bill, etc.)
Parent/guardians driver license to be examined by the school upon registering

2. How does a parent arrange a conference with a teacher?

Parents are encouraged to have conferences with teachers. You can email or call the campus and leave a message for the teacher and they will promptly return your call to arrange the conference.

3. How does a parent report an absence?

Parents are asked to notify the school before 9 a.m. by phone where we have a call in list to detail your child's absence. Students will be counted absent after 9:30 a.m. Students may be excused for temporary absences due to personal sickness, sickness or death in your family, quarantine, or weather and road conditions making travel dangerous.

A note written and signed by one a parent explaining the reason for the absence is required when students return to school (or within three days). Appointments for students should be scheduled before or after school, if possible. If a student is absent for a part of the day for a medical appointment or therapy, they will not be marked absent if they meet the following conditions:

1. Presentation of a signed statement by the doctor or therapist verifying the appointment.

2. The reasonableness of excused time requested for the appointment. The reason for an absence must be stated in writing and signed by a parent.

Students will be excused from attending school in order to observe religious holy days if, before the absence, parents submit a written request for the absence. If traveling, students will also be excused for the day they must travel to and from the site where the holy day is observed. Excused days for travel will be limited to not more than one day for travel to and one day for travel from the site where the holy day is observed. Students will also be excused for the holy day(s). Students will be counted as if they attended school that day.

4. How can I pay for my childs lunches?

Students can pay for their meals by using cash or by deducting it from their food service account. To deposit funds into a childs account, send cash or a check made out to Northwest ISD. (If a check is returned for insufficient funds, an insufficient check fee of $25 will be charged and no further checks will be accepted until full payment has been made.)

For an instant deposit, you may also use the districts Internet program, ExpressPay Café, to directly deposit funds into your childs account from your credit card.

Click here

to access ExpressPay Café.

Childrens meal activities may also be tracked via the ExpressPay Café site. All funds remaining in your childs food service account will carry over to the next school year unless a refund is requested. Requests for refunds or requests to place restrictions on your childs account can be sent via email to

foodservice@nisdtx.org

The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program at Northwest ISD is planned and managed by ARAMARK Food Services.

In compliance with the National School Lunch Program, applications for free and reduced-priced meals are available in the front office of each school. Please follow the application directions carefully so your application can be processed quickly. If you have more than one child attending NISD schools, combine their names on one application.

If you received free/reduced-priced meals last year, your children will continue to receive meal benefits the first 30 days of school. During that time, a new application must be completed for free/reduced meals to continue.

5. How do I find out about school closings?

Weather conditions and other unforeseen conditions may occur that will make it necessary for the Northwest ISD to close. Parents that have provided a contact phone number will be contacted by the NISD phone system. Information is also available on the district website, local radio or television news reports. No announcements will be made when schools are to remain open. Information regarding school closings will be posted as soon as possible and will be communicated through the following venues:

NISD NewsEmail Alert

NISD Web Site:

nisdtx.org/index.htm

KDFW TV Channel 4

KXAS TX Channel 5

WFAA TV Channel 8

KTVT TV Channel 11

WBAP Radio 820 AM

KERA Radio 90.1 FM

KPLX/KLIF Radio 99.5 FM/570 AM

KRLD Radio 1080 AM

KVIL Radio 103.7 FM

6. What are the procedures for car riders?

Each campus has a different traffic flow. Please see our information under the Traffic Patterns tab within our web site.

7. Are tutorials available on campus?

Academic tutoring is available for all students. Check with your childs campus for the most updated tutorial information.

8. What is the bell schedule?

Our doors open each morning at 7:20 am. We ask that you keep your child in your care until we open our doors. Instruction starts at 7:40 am. Your child will need to be in their classroom by 7:40 ready to learn. Students entering the building after the 7:40 tardy bell and students in the building that are not in their classrooms by 7:40 will be counted tardy. Students are released each day at 3:00.

9. How do I obtain information about the bus schedule and pickups?

You can go to our districts Transportation website for routes and other information about the transportation department for Northwest ISD.

You can also contact Durham Transportation with any questions at 817-698-1287.

10. What is Pinnacle?

The Pinnacle Internet Viewer provides parents/guardians at Northwest ISD with the opportunity to go on-line to access information about your childs attendance record and academic performance for students. It will also allow you to subscribe to an email notification system that will automatically send an email to you with updates about your childs progress. The Pinnacle Internet Viewer will provide timely information for you to use as you work with your child. Activating your childs account will require you to provide and to complete information at the school.

Please check the student handbook to obtain information about the districts dress code. The Dress Code for Elementary Students is on page 27 within the Student Handbook.

14. Are visitors permitted in the schools?

Parents and others are welcome to visit District schools. For the safety of those within the school setting, all visitors are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of courtesy and conduct; disruptive behavior will not be permitted.

A campus principal has the authority to require all visitors to sign-in and receive a visitor pass prior to proceeding to any area of the campus in order to maintain student safety and/or an orderly environment.

Visitor passes are issued through Raptor. Raptor is a visitor tracking system that enhances school security. The system reads visitor drivers licenses (or other government-issued photo IDs), compares information to a sex offender database, alerts campus administrators if a match is found, then (assuming no match was made) prints a visitor badge that includes a photo of the visitor.

Safety of students is the district's highest priority. Raptor provides a consistent system to track visitors and volunteers while limiting access by people who present a danger to students and staff.

It is the principal's responsibility to minimize interruptions during instructional time. Further information regarding the guidelines that apply to visitors to schools can be found in the District Student Handbook (online).

15. How can I receive school news via e-mail?

Northwest News provides breaking and up-to-date information about the district, including closings. To sign up to receive Northwest News,

Click here

16. How can I view the districts Student Code of Conduct?

The Student Handbook at Student Code of Conduct can be viewed on the district's web site.

Sonny & Allegra Nance Elementary

NISD affirms its commitment to ensuring people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access online information and functionality. If you believe any online information or functionality is currently inaccessible, contact Melissa Shawn, communications and web specialist at 817-215-0135 or mshawn@nisdtx.org.